SECDEF GATES: AL QAEDA EXPANDNG

Gates hailed the elimination of an al Qaeda sanctuary in Afghanistan, but emphasized that al Qaeda is far from beaten. “We still have to deal with their activities elsewhere,” he said. The secretary said he has a map showing countries with al Qaeda cells, affiliated terrorist cells, or cells that want to be affiliated with al Qaeda. “It’s a lot of countries,” he told the group. “Clearly they are expanding. So the challenge is there.” (6/3/2007)

UPDATE:

This is what Gates said at a press conference:

Press Conference with Secretary Gates at Shangri-La Dialogue, Singapore
June 02, 2007

We have eliminated one sanctuary for al-Qaida in Afghanistan. We still have to deal with their activities elsewhere. Clearly they are continuing to expand. I had a map prepared that basically showed in one color all those countries where al-Qaida had cells, and then in a different color all those that had al-Qaida-affiliated terrorist cells, and then in a third color those that had cells that wanted to be affiliated with al-Qaida but had not yet earned the secret handshake. And it’s a lot of countries. So the challenge I think is there. It is significant.